Monthly Faves : June

• Wonderful blogging advice from one of my favorite bloggers.
• Love, love, love this Manifesto for Vibrant Living from my blog friend Analiese at Green Plate Studios. I feel like I could have written it myself, and I'm inspired to see how I can move towards a life that's in closer alignment with this vision she articulated.
• With a few exceptions, this list of 50 things every graphic design student should know can be applied to *anyone's* life.
• This post is an articulate response to another blogger's critical post about women's tendency to infantalize themselves by liking things like cupcakes and cute dresses and flowers. As someone who doesn't care for women policing other women, I really appreciate Elizabeth's perspective and appreciation for individuals.


• I'm convinced every recipe online should come with a video like this ;) {I know this video has been everywhere this month, but I had to share it too!}
• Stunning cinemagraphs.
• Get Scarffy with this ADORABLE video. Bri is darling.
• You know Beyonce's new song "Run the World"? {"Who runs the world? GIRLS."} This video brought up some fabulous points countering Beyonce's song, and totally made me miss my women's studies courses from college.


• I was super excited to learn that Joy the Baker has a podcast. I can't believe I didn't know about it and can't wait to listen! Judging by the episode titles, it'll be a riot :)
• New Bon Iver is out! {FYI: link will launch iTunes} For some reason, Bon Iver sounds like fall and winter to me, but I'm excited to have some fresh tunes this month.


• Time for popsicles! Recipes here: 50 homemade popsicle recipes, even more popsicle recipes, and pudding pop recipes. I'm scouring the lists for dairy-free and easily non-dairy-izable versions :)
• Remember my "10 Tips for Savoring Summer" suggestion to road trip to the strangest, kitschy-est landmark? Here are some perfect suggestions to start you off.
• Summer salads are one of the best parts about the season, in my opinion. Here are even more ideas.
• I'm keeping my eyes open for this blog design workshop hosted by Jo of August Empress and the amazing Darling Tree web design studio.
• Give your lemonade a modern, fun twist with one of these recipes.
• Speaking of lemonade, how about storing it inside some prettied-up mason jars?
• Holy cow, there are no words: Pizza pot pie. {I'm daydreaming about a version with a whole wheat crust, less cheese and more veggies!}
• I cannot wait to see the ideas that come out of this: "Rethinking the Food Label: Nutrition. Design. Conversation."

Monthly Faves is a series featuring my favorite links and bits around the interwebs.

Creative Tithing : June

This month's creative tithing purchase was something that has been living in my Favorites list for months now. I've been trying to guide my wardrobe closer to my style statement, so that meant that it was time to trade in some of the cheap, costume-y jewelry scored from places like Forever 21 (which are so junky and usually break within two wears anyways) in favor of some statement pieces that are both organic and bold.  Raw crystals are definitely a trend these days, which means I'd normally stay away from them, but I love Sadie Designs' work. The way Sarah uses her materials is so fresh.  I really love the necklace, and have gotten quite a few compliments on it each time I've worn it.

Here is Sarah's Etsy shop and her blog. She is located in Vancouver, and is currently a Landscape Architecture intern by day and designs jewelry at night-- and I'm all in favor of supporting people's side passions!

Weekending.

- Treating ourselves to sushi at a local restaurant (with a delicious sweet potato roll and a seaweed salad for me!)
- Getting to chat with my sister-in-law who popped by for a visit.
- Realizing that we need to spend more time with the family members that live nearby.
- Visiting the ice cream shop and being happy to see their non-dairy options (even if my stomach and I are not sure if we got the right order, boo--next time!)
- Catching up on blog writing, hooray!
- An early morning walk to the farmer's market.
- Picking up asparagus for my favorite salad, and the freshest, juicy strawberries and cherries from Michigan.
- Dining on a fresh poached egg over spicy arugula from our CSA.
- Taking my summer reading pledge to the park for a few hours. Current book = amazing.
- Naptime!
- Having a belated Father's Day barbeque with my dad, step-mom and brother, and an intense game of baggo/corn hole.
- Visiting a grocery store with an extensive international section and picking up fun ingredients like tamarind paste, pomegranate molasses and achiote (annatto paste). I'm excited to get adventurous with some homemade Thai, Persian and Mexican food!
- Enjoyed having this interview with me posted at Create Mixed Media about my art journaling journey.

How was your weekend?  I hope you have a beautiful, inspiring week ahead!

Summer Reading Pledge Badges

Here are the badges I made for the summer reading pledge! Unfortunately, I'm not a HTML/coding whiz, so I couldn't figure out how to troubleshoot the HTML code box for the badges to make it easier for you to grab. So I'm just posting the graphic in case you want to put it on your own blog. Don't worry about it if you can't figure out how to do it {I can barely figure it out myself sometimes!}.

If you're on Blogger, it's easiest to go to the Design tab, add a Gadget, and select "Picture" from the list. Then copy and paste in the HTML for the image (found below) and put the link to my Summer Reading blog post (also found below) in the Link box. That should do it :)

Link to my summer reading blog post:
http://caitidid-designs.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-reading-pledge.html

Large button (200 pixels wide):
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/4103/summerreadingpledge200.jpg



Small button (150 pixels wide):
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7530/summerreadingpledge150.jpg



Thanks to those of you participating in the pledge, and for those who would be willing to share my button for the pledge! You are awesome :)

Summer Reading Pledge : Bossypants Review

The first book completed for my Summer Reading Pledge was Tina Fey's Bossypants. I was thrilled when I heard she had a book coming out, because I think of myself as being a sort of Liz Lemon-esque character, especially the neuroses, minus the cool job. I feel like I'm behind the rest of the world in finally getting around to reading the book, but that was because I put in a request from the library for the book instead of forking over $15 bucks for it, and I had to wait several weeks to receive a copy.


My review: Let's just say I'm glad I didn't spend those $15 bucks. As much as I love me some Tina Fey wit, I felt that the book never really came together for me in the way I hoped it would. It felt more like a collection of short stories, rather than a cohesive piece about Ms. Fey. And with a few exceptions, the stories didn't really stick with me. Although, as I think about it, the style and format of the book shouldn't really surprise me, given that it sort of parallels a SNL episode. Nonetheless, it was only mildly entertaining with just a few laughs from me {also like an SNL episode! Can you tell I've never really been a fan?} I also was turned off by Tina's self-deprecation regarding her looks and body. I have yet to find a woman who would hate looking like her. BUT! I did enjoy learning about some of the behind-the-scenes details of SNL and 30 Rock, and seeing how Tina deals with motherhood and her career.


Caveat: I have heard that the audiobook version is totally worth it and then some. Why? It's read by Tina Fey and you get to hear her say things like "asshat." And that would be worth it for me, at least.

In summary: 2.5/5 Stars. Library-worthy read, not own-it worthy. Don't expect too much, and go for the audio version if possible.

I know some of you must have read it already... What did you think of Bossypants?

Touched by love.

I'm slowly settling back into normal life after our trip to New Mexico for the Santa Maria family reunion, but I've found it necessary to remain quiet here, letting the magic of the trip wash over me again and again. I find myself perusing the same albums of photos of the reunion and friending "new" family members on Facebook while turning over the numerous memories in my mind.

I don't think I was expecting much from the trip, other than getting away from work for a while and being surrounded by hoards of people {something that sometimes makes me want to hide in a corner}. But it ended up being so much more than that. I admit that I went to New Mexico a bit guarded and hard-hearted since so many of that side of my husband's large family were surprisingly MIA or no-shows for our wedding three years ago. It's something that sounds so petty now, but it was a little bit of a chip that I think both my husband and I had on our shoulders.

That chip washed away and my heart softened as soon as we were greeted with open arms by the family who we so rarely get to see. Grandma and Grandpa made everyone there feel like family, whether they've known you since birth or if you were an addition through marriage {like me!} or just a friend of the family.

The outpouring of love was the most touching part about the whole weekend. Not only was it a standard family reunion with 85 people coming in from Hawaii to Virginia, but it also happened to be Grandma and Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary.

 The photo wall of Grandma and Grandpa and their eight children {My father-in-law is the one on the bottom left. Love that 70's hair!}
 All eight of their children at the anniversary celebration
These two are still so in love with each other that it was palpable, just radiating out of both of them. There were so many tender looks exchanged, and many jokes about the love that resulted in eight children. There was a wedding vow renewal where Grandpa got choked up saying his vows to his wife of 60 years, and in turn wetting every eye in the crowd. There was a slow dance to the same song that they danced to on their first date, and speeches of gratitude for each other, their children, their grandchildren and their friends.



And the rest of the family showered Grandma and Grandpa with love right back. It was so incredible to think about how we were all there because of {and thanks to} those two wonderful people. Like any family, there has been a large share of drama, hardships, challenges and relationship problems, but everyone was able to put those aside to celebrate. After the vow renewal, the family presented Grandma and Grandpa with a mosaic photograph--a collection of photos of all the family members that when viewed at a distance makes up a photo of Grandma and Grandpa. A perfect representation of how we are all a part of them.

We also all took turns sneaking out to the front of their house the night of the party to sign the garage door with permanent marker like a giant, living yearbook. Grandma and Grandpa were lead outside, blindfolded, and presented with their graffiti'd garage door while the entire family cheered on. They absolutely loved it--Grandma jumped up and down with pure exhuberant joy and Grandpa said he plans on shellacking it for longevity. The next day we caught Grandpa outside, just quietly reading all the messages, lost in the words of his loved ones.



It was really moving for me to witness the outpouring of love for and from them, so much so that it's hard to put into words. The family is not shy about show their love or emotions for one another, and even the teenage grandsons were moved to tears at several points when Grandma and Grandpa shared some old letters that the boys had written as children. It's not something I'm used to seeing, as I come from much smaller families who have a different, less outward and affectionate way of expressing their love, if they speak to each other at all. {Many don't.} It made me really grateful to be able to be a part of this family, and to be welcomed into it with open arms. They have touched so many people throughout their lives, and opened their hearts and their home. I'm proud to have the family name as my own :)  Happy and love-filled, I'm inspired to bring this strong sense of love and joy into the rest of my life.


Everybody
 Mi familia {Father-in-law, siblings-in-laws and nephews}
All eight children with Grandma and Grandpa
The portion of grandkids that were able to attend the reunion {minus great grandbabies}
Love that endures
{Photos courtesy of my sister-in-law, cousin and aunt}

Bits and Bobbins : Random Thoughts, Part I

- I'm thrilled at the sign-ups for my Summer Reading Pledge! I've finished one out of five books on my list, so I'm in good shape to reach--or maybe even surpass--my goal. There's still time if anyone else wants to join in... we still have the whole summer ahead of us for book time!

- Speaking of my summer reading pledge, I was excited to see that my local library is hosting its own adult summer reading challenge... with the grand prize being a Nook Color! And then it made me feel super lame that the offered prize for my blog challenge will be a measly Amazon gift card. Sorry, guys :) I wish I was Miss Moneybags, but sadly, NO.

- Yes, I've been posting a bit sporadically lately. {Side note: Does anyone else still think of Clueless every time you use the word "sporadically"? No, just me?} I've been in the midst of my only bit of summer traveling the past few weeks--last weekend took me to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to visit my favorite college friend and for my husband to play in a disc golf tournament, and this weekend I'm headed to New Mexico for my husband's GIANT family reunion {and the bestest homemade, authentic Mexican food by Grandma!}. Stories and photos will surely be forthcoming, along with a return to a more normal blog schedule.

- Totally random rant: STOP IT WITH THE FITNESS PORN ON PINTEREST. SRSLY.

- My recent obsession with sandwiches has led me to consider doing a special Foodie Friday series dedicated to the vegetarian sandwich, where I explore all the delicious non-meat sandwich combinations. Yay/nay?

- First CSA delivery of the season is tomorrow!! Today feels like Christmas Eve.

- This is going to sound intentionally vague, but let me just say that I'm really starting to believe the idea that life will keep presenting you with the same challenges/obstacles {and often goes so far as to bash you over the head with them} until you truly learn your lesson and change your ways, once and for all. More on this at a later date?

- This picture brings me so much joy. Rock on, little man, rock on.

And with that, I conclude my randomness for the evening. XOXO.

Free Art Journaling Class from Natalie Malik

Just a quick note for my art journaling friends and readers... My Indie Biz 3.0 and Tell Your Story classmate Natalie of Awkward & Beautiful is leading a free {woohoo!} online art journaling course called In the Sun. It started on Monday, but you can still jump in any time. I love Natalie's pages, so I have no doubt that her prompts and techniques will be fabulous. What a great way to have some fun and document your summer along the way!  Hope to see some of you there :)

Ten Tips For Savoring Summer

Blowing Rock Beach by Anuska Sampedro

It must be a hold-over from summer breaks when I was a child, but the summer season still holds a magical sense of possibility. Those three months off of school were the perfect time to put aside normal responsibilities in favor of doing whatever you damn well pleased. Running around in bare feet all day? Sure! Eating ice cream twice a day? Absolutely. Alternating between hiding indoors in the air conditioning and jumping in the neighbor's pool to stay cool? You bet.

Most of us don't have that stretch of freedom that summer break previously afforded, but I think we can still use this season to mix up our routine a bit and let go of our to-do lists in favor of spontaneous thrills {and chills, for those of you who might wither in the heat like I do}. Here are a few of my favorite ideas: 


1. Set off on a road trip to find the cheesiest landmark within a weekend's drive. Largest ball of twine? A teepee hotel? Make sure to bring your camera and stop for pictures at every historical landmark sign along the way.

2. Forget dignity and chase the ice cream man down the street to buy a popsicle. Enjoy it with abandon, letting the red juice drip down to your elbows.

3. Stop at a lemonade stand run by young entrepreneurs and be sure to leave $5 for the 25 cent cup of lemonade. You'll be a rockstar to them.

4. Freshen up those eight glasses of H20 that are oh-so-important in the hot summer time by adding sliced cucumber, lemons or frozen berries.

5. Expand your definition of grilling beyond burgers and hot dogs. For inspiration, check out Mark Bittman's mostly veggie-centric 101 Fast Recipes for Grilling or the gorgeous options via Tastespotting.

6. Eat al fresco. Somehow food just tastes infinitely better when accompanied by a nice breeze and a gorgeous sunset. Patios and rooftop decks are great options, although a blanket in the park will do in a pinch.


7. Two words: Summer. Berries. Eat raspberries until your fingertips are stained with fuchsia. Pop blueberries like candy. Nothing beats the freshness of seasonal berries. If you're lucky enough to live near a strawberry patch, go out and pick your own!

8. On those unbearably hot days, stash your pillow case in the freezer for a few minutes before bed. Seriously, I swear by this. Keeping your moisturizer and aloe in the refrigerator are other refreshing pick-me-ups.

9. Whenever the thermometer climbs too high and makes outdoor activities akin to torture, plan an all day movie marathon. I prefer the movie theaters for this activity thanks to their tendency to make their establishment feel like the inside of a refrigerator. If you're lucky enough to have a chilly basement with a TV, that'll work too!

10. Join a summer reading challenge {shameless self-promo plug!} and make a book your favorite accompaniment for the beach, on vacation or just hanging out in a park.

What's your favorite summer tradition? Any wonderful plans in the books?

Summer Reading Pledge

Walking through the library recently, I was struck with a bout of nostalgia for those summer reading clubs that I used to partake in during the summer months-- you know, those programs where we used to pledge that we'd read a certain number of books over the course of a summer. We'd fill out our name and state our reading commitment on a sheet of paper cut in the shape of a sun, and proudly tape it up in the children's section of the library. I can't remember what we received for participating, but I always had fun trying to read as many books as I could during my breaks from school.

After recounting those summer days where a stack of books was sometimes my favorite companion, I got the urge to recreate a similar charm. Rather than looking at the multiple stacks of books around my condo as just another item on my to-do list, I want to celebrate the written word this summer. Between the vacations I have scheduled and afternoons I plan to spend on a blanket in the park, I determined that it's the perfect opportunity to commit to a season of reading.


Would you like to join me? 

I know many of us are busy with jobs, families, travel and other warm-weather activities, but I'd like to invite you all to join me in this commitment to reading this summer, from June 1st to September 1st. This is just a casual, low-pressure way for us to keep track of our reading goals, no matter if you read one book or ten. I promise there will be no book reports or discussions, and no book police that come after you if you aren't reading! :)

If you'd like to join me, just comment below with either a list of books you'd like to get to this summer, or simply a general number of books that you hope to get to. If you happen to blog about your pledge {perhaps with the list of books you're planning on reading} be sure to post a link in the comments so we can be sure to visit each others' blogs, since I for one love to see what others are reading. On September 1st, I'll do a wrap up post so that we can see if we achieved our goals, and I'll do a little giveaway of an Amazon gift card among those who participate!

Now go hit up the library, friends :)